~ A blog on the famous author H.P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) and his works

While Benefit street was young (1943)

A very nicely designed and illustrated 1943 booklet, While Benefit street was young by Margaret Bingham Stillwell (1887-1984). A short but vivid first-hand childhood account of a street and area that Lovecraft knew well, around the turn of the century. Written by an academic who was, back then, a slightly older youth than Lovecraft was (circa age 14-ish, to his 11-ish?). Sadly there’s no Kindle or OCR version, but it can be freely read online at HathiTrust.

intended to defend the street of her childhood from a reputation of sordidness and disrepair suggested by David DeJong’s [David Cornel De Jong] novel, Benefit Street. … She continued her campaign with the publication in 1945 of The Pageant of Benefit Street [144 pages, sadly not online].